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After Puzzles and WPNZ had defeated the local gang that had been giving them grief, they’d decided to celebrate by going on a booze-binging bender across the small coastal town they were confined to. After cleaning out every liquor shelf in the area and thoroughly pestering the townsfolk, they had stumbled back to their motel room where they hid all the remaining cash that they’d obtained from the heist.
They considered this a new chapter in their post-rift lives, and now that the Rivets were out of the way, the opportunities were endless. Once their victory lap had ended however, a morose silence was left in its wake, forcing them to ruminate on what had happened.
Although Puzzles was one for keeping up an act, he felt like they had delayed things for long enough, and wanted to address it first. That, and he had a million burning questions on his mind. He thought WPNZ would share the same sentiment, but…
“I’m better than ever! It’s gonna take a helluva lot more than that to shake me up.” He’d say, but the pain in his eyes juxtaposed his enthusiasm.
From then on, every time Puzzles alluded to the incident, WPNZ would parrot the same cagey response.
He could recognize denial from a mile away, it was a game he’d played countless times. He was by no means an empath, but he certainly knew enough about his partner to tell that he was acting differently. WPNZ, who was usually so talkative, an open book on just about anything if prompted, had shut down and built up walls. He kept insisting that he was fine, but it was clear that the heist had impacted him more than he was letting on.
Puzzles wanted to wait until he was ready to talk about it out of respect, but unfortunately he had his own burdens that needed unloading. WPNZ was the only one he could confide in, and try as he might to coax him into speaking more on the matter, the assassin remained reticent.
And truthfully, he understood. He too had events from his past that he didn’t want to confront, especially those that had ruined nearly every one of his tentative relationships. But, he’d learned the hard way that ignoring it would only make things worse. He had to get WPNZ to open back up again, and show his more emotional side that was disguised beneath a hardened metal shell of carnage and calamity.
They had both promised to tread more carefully since surviving the portal, even as they'd decided to continue their criminal mischief. But, they had gotten reckless, and abused their second chance. Because of that, they’d been punished by the same cosmic force that had saved them the first time.
When the idea of a heist at the Rivet’s base had been proposed, Puzzles anticipated a spectacle. However, he hadn’t expected there to be so many repercussions along with it.
Everything had been going smoothly until he’d gotten captured. He and WPNZ had broken free, and unleashed hell upon the gang members. The couple had triumphed, and were ready to head home and bask in their riches, when Puzzles had spotted a straggler.
He had let his ego get the better of him, and WPNZ ended up paying the price for it.
It wasn’t the copious amounts of blood on their hands that was the issue, but rather the oil that had been spilt that fateful night. WPNZ had been fatally shot, and with his life hanging by a thread, Puzzles had to operate on him. It had been touch and go, and for a moment he thought he’d lost his beloved, but he’d been revived at the last second. Had he been a sliver too late, WPNZ’s power core would have gone out.
As much as they wanted to think otherwise, neither of them were immortal, and WPNZ’s brush with death had left him wary. Puzzles couldn’t help but feel guilty, he’d been unquestionably responsible for his resulting trauma. He hoped that at the very least, he wasn’t mad at him.
If that wasn’t bad enough, there was also an underlying mystery still looming over their heads like a dark, ominous cloud. The Rivets had been in league with an unknown benefactor, and whoever they were, revealed things about WPNZ that no one from this world could have known about. Something far more complex was going on, something that left the two of them tangled in the center of a winding web. They couldn’t shake the feeling that with each string they pulled, the web would only tighten around them, suffocating them.
WPNZ knew when to slow down and live in the moment, but how could he think to take it easy right now when he and his partner were being stalked by an unknown threat? He couldn’t afford to stop and stew in his emotions while he recovered, he had to get to work. It was very much a distraction from what he didn’t want to face, but so what? He was being productive, the sooner he took out this “benefactor”, the better. Maybe then he could relax, and Puzzles would stop giving him those worried looks.
He had to keep up a confident front, he was a killing machine who, no matter how many times he got knocked down or torn apart, would pick up the pieces and put them back together again before carrying on.
“Perseverance in the face of even the cruelest violence.” was one of Hitman Inc’s core principals.
So long as WPNZ kept himself alive, that was all that mattered.
The motel room door swung open, and WPNZ walked in, Puzzles tailing right behind him. WPNZ had just finished his latest round of cornering and interrogating any shady looking stranger he could get his hands on to see if they’d cough up any information on the benefactor. Most of these shakedowns led to dead ends and bloody messes, which only made him more frustrated.
When they were headed home, Puzzles had voiced his concerns that he was pushing himself too hard, and hadn't had the chance to to properly attach his new conductor. WPNZ had dismissed this, claiming that he was fine. But, Puzzles had kept insisting, even as they'd reached the parking lot and exited the van.
“For the dozenth time, Boxhead,” WPNZ didn’t look back at him, checking his large metal hands for any lingering blood stains. “Everything’s workin’ how it's s’posed to.”
“WPNZ, please,” Puzzles implored as he shut the door behind him. “You’re overexerting yourself. What if your conductor malfunctions while you're in the middle of some big, explosive battle?”
WPNZ turned around to face him. He appreciated that he was looking out for him, but this was a bit much.
“You don’t think you got it right the first time?”
“Even I can acknowledge that my usually flawless work was rushed and sloppy.” Puzzles admitted. “I was more focused on saving your life than creating perfection.”
WPNZ subtly tensed at the mention of his near-death experience, but Puzzles didn’t seem to notice.
“Define your version of “sloppy”, exactly?”
“We can’t risk your conductor not being secured to your hardware!” He pressed. “At least let me look you over just to be sure it’s set in place.”
WPNZ considered it. He’d much rather go to bed after such a long night, but he knew Puzzles wouldn’t be able to catch a wink of sleep until he made absolute certain that his conductor was attached. Not wanting his partner to bust a screw from stress, he caved.
“Alright,” He sighed. “If it helps you sleep at night, I guess you can take a crack at it.”
“Thank you!” Relieved, Puzzles hugged WPNZ tightly, his foot popping in the air. “You make yourself comfortable while I fetch the tools!”
As Puzzles stepped out to grab the tools from the van, WPNZ made his way over to the bed. He sat down, and casually ran his hand along the patterned covers, noting that their corners had been tucked in. He figured that it must have been Puzzles’ doing, he was always giving the room little “touch-ups” that would make it feel more homey. The gesture was thoughtful, but unfortunately they’d revert back to a loose bundle of sheets by the next morning.
WPNZ never really noticed until now that Puzzles would re-tuck the covers every day. He couldn't recall if he’d ever thanked him for doing that.
Puzzles returned with a dingy red toolbox in his grasp. It was covered in dents and scratches, and the paint was chipping. Tools in various stages of wear all poked out from it in a cluttered mess, the lid barely hanging on by rusty hinges. A single, long black cord dangled from out its side like a lashing tail.
The assortment of mismatched tools had been collected over time, most of them scavenged or stolen. When the duo had first started out in this new world, they couldn’t have afforded to be picky. Well, at least now they could with their recently acquired fortune.
Puzzles chipperly strode over to the bedside and placed the toolbox down on the nightstand. He smiled, and sat down next to WPNZ.
“Shall we begin?”
“So long as you lighten up on the coddling.” WPNZ grumbled.
“I am not coddling.” Puzzles stated. “I am simply looking out for your well-being.”
WPNZ didn't say anything back, and sat up straight, waiting for Puzzles to start. He was usually hesitant on letting anyone besides himself handle his machinery, but Puzzles had become a very recent exception. He still remembered when he had come to his aid in that forsaken junkyard. If he hadn’t, he probably would have spent his remaining days rusting there until he was little more than a pile of scrap.
Just like how Puzzles took pride in his performances, WPNZ took pride in his hardware. It was a complex system stored with weaponry of all kinds, and with a simple command he could deploy whichever ones he desired. It had taken many trial and error to get the mechanics just right, and although he disagreed that his conductor needed fixing, he was still courteous enough to let Puzzles examine him.
Puzzles undid the buttons of WPNZ’s shirt before folding it back, exposing his steel chest. Cold greeted his fingertips as he felt around the hard surface, moving them further up until he landed on a small indentation between WPNZ’s shoulder and collarbone. He pressed down on the switch, and a muffled sound echoed from inside WPNZ’s body.
A rectangular outline formed on the top section of his chest, before a puff of steam seeped out from it. The metal panel slowly creaked open, revealing the intricate network of churning cogs, pumping pistons, and woven wires.
Puzzles thought it was a brilliant display. In spite of its age and how much it’s endured, everything still ran excellently. He felt honored to work on such an impressive feat of technology, while also getting to explore and interact with WPNZ’s most intimate parts.
Obviously, WPNZ had caught him gawking. He smirked.
“Take a picture, why dontcha?”
“If you’re offering~” Puzzles hummed unashamedly. “Besides, my screen automatically records everything I perceive.”
WPNZ breathed out a soft laugh in reply.
Puzzles scooted forward, and leaned in a little closer to get a better look at WPNZ. From what he could see so far, nothing was wrong. His power core glowed a bright, healthy blue, flickering steadily like a heartbeat. The thin wires connecting to his conductor were also intact, and didn’t need replacing either.
Behind the front interfacing, small pistons and gears moved as intended, each piece working in perfect harmony with one another to power their host. Puzzles supposed they could use an oiling, but aside from a few squeaky joints, everything looked to be in order.
He moved on to the main source of his concern: WPNZ’s new conductor. He glimpsed over the large bullet that had once been gifted to him, as well as the band of crude metal bordering it. The job he’d done when he’d tried to save him, although messy, hadn’t worn away yet. It would probably hold if he left it alone, but he knew he could do better.
“What’s the damage, Doc?” WPNZ joked, pulling Puzzles from his thoughts.
“Everything appears to be operating normally…” He clicked his tongue. “But, the soldering job on your conductor is less than adequate. It needs to be redone.”
WPNZ held back from saying anything in protest. He really didn’t see what the big deal was, but so long as it gave Puzzles peace of mind, he’d comply.
Puzzles reached over, and retrieved the soldering iron from the toolbox, its cord dragging along the floor. He checked to see if it was full, and after confirming that it was, grasped it with one hand. An electrical pulse crackled from his palm, and surged up into the iron, the needle-point tip turning red hot in seconds. He could have just plugged it in and waited a few minutes for it to warm up, but he preferred doing it this way.
WPNZ stayed silent, staring. The sight of Puzzles squeezing a cylindrical metal object and using his electricity to heat it up until its tip was at near melting point… He swallowed, his mind drifting to a very peculiar place. Maybe it was best that he didn’t think about it any further.
Puzzles put his hand on WPNZ’s shoulder to keep him still, and inched the soldering iron closer to his chest. He steadied his grip as he held the tip up to the conductor. With slow, precise movements, he traced the soldering iron around the outline of the bullet, releasing the metal filling as he went. Every few seconds he’d pause and pull the tip away, before going back in again.
With not much else to do, WPNZ watched Puzzles work. He’d always considered him an enigma, this strange mix between charming and neurotic. But right now, he was calm, quiet even. He was pooling all of his attention into this one task, and nothing- not even a giant billboard advertising that the latest, flashiest hit musical was coming to their town- would distract him.
Not only that, he was being so…delicate with him. It was like he viewed his parts as something that would break if even the slightest amount of pressure was applied. He’d never been handled this way before, like he was fragile. Strangely, he found it comforting. A warmth bloomed in his chest, and it wasn’t from the heat of the iron.
How was it that Puzzles could be so observant about the littlest of details, but would sometimes have trouble sensing immediate danger? For a guy obsessed with the silver-screen, he sure struggled with seeing the bigger picture. Maybe it was because he had a different villainous upbringing than him, or because he truly believed that he’d always come out on top.
Not to mention he was surprisingly strong too, despite his deceptively scrawny appearance. Sure, when it came to landing heavy blows, he was lacking in that department, but damn was he agile, and could blast someone or something to bits in a matter of seconds. His terrifying ability to control minds also benefitted him greatly, he could turn an enemy into a servant with a snap of his fingers, and trap them in his TV dimension where he had total creative reign.
And on top of it all, there was also a part of him that was capable of showing genuine compassion for those he loved dearly.
WPNZ was just about to relax for the first time since getting shot, when Puzzles’ voice caught his attention.
“Something on your mind?”
“Hm?” He blinked at him.
“I can feel you admiring me.”
“Oh uh, you’re just really concentrating there.” WPNZ answered quickly.
“Of course,” Puzzles replied as he filled in a curve with the soldering iron. “Your care requires my full attention.”
He had said it so casually like it was a fact, that WPNZ couldn’t help but feel touched by it. He'd had people be impressed by his violent stunts, but was never complimented on his body besides his arsenal. No one had ever really appreciated the amount of effort he'd put into maintaining himself, to get everything working correctly so that it would function as a singular unit.
“Can’t remember the last time I watched you work your mechanical magic.” He remarked. “Matter of fact, we should put our heads together and whip something up sometime.”
“A collaboration, you say?” Puzzles’ interest was piqued. “What did you have in mind?”
“I dunno.” WPNZ shrugged. “Something big and destructive.” He snapped his fingers as he was struck with an idea. “Oh! Hey, you're good with like, props n’ shit, right? Let’s make a Transformer, like an actual fuckin’ car that can morph into-”
He jolted as a harsh zap of electricity racked through his body.
“My apologies!” Puzzles squeaked. “I accidentally touched a wire.”
“S’okay.” WPNZ groaned, still recovering from the literal shock.
“Your idea has some merit, you know.” Puzzles went on. “Practical effects are much more revered in the entertainment industry. That’s why there’s so many iconic animatronics!”
His screen changed to showcase said animatronics, ranging from the shark in Jaws, the creatures in Gremlins, and the T-Rex in Jurassic Park.
“With our combined genius, we can create the ultimate prop and conquer the town with it!”
“Now we’re talkin’!” WPNZ cheered.
The room fell quiet again, and after a few more minutes passed, Puzzles was finally done. He’d accomplished this in less than an hour, which was a new record for him. It hadn’t been a very complicated job, but at least now he could breathe knowing that WPNZ’s conductor would be secure for years to come.
Thanks to him, he would never have to worry about it falling apart again.
Though, if it weren’t for him, WPNZ wouldn’t have needed his conductor replaced to begin with.
Puzzles was just about ready to wrap things up and close WPNZ’s panel, when he’d spotted something out of the corner of his eye. It was so insignificant that it wouldn’t affect WPNZ in any way, but it itched at his mind. It was a representation of his recent mistakes, and he had to acknowledge it.
Assuming his partner had finished, WPNZ leaned back. “Am I good to go?”
“Just about,” Puzzles refused to take his eyes off of the flaw. “There is one thing, though.”
“This section here,” His screen shifted to a zoomed in image of WPNZ’s interfacing. “There’s some very mild scratching from where you were shot. Perhaps I could buff them out, if you-”
“Pass.” WPNZ answered immediately, jaw clenching a little.
Puzzles’ face returned to the screen, rife with concern.
“You almost…”
“Yeah?” WPNZ started to sound defensive. “We nearly get killed all the time, but we always manage to pull through. This ain’t any different.”
“WPNZ, that was too close,” Puzzles glared at him. “Don’t be so stubborn as to think you can avoid discussing this forever.”
“Think whatever you want, Boxhead.” WPNZ huffed, his discomfort rising.
The air between them grew tense, and neither of them said anything. Puzzles, who realized that he wouldn’t get anywhere by confronting WPNZ directly, decided to change tactics.
“How did The Rivets know your name?” He pried.
WPNZ was a little relieved that Puzzles had changed the subject, but he didn’t want to talk about that either.
“You've asked me that already.”
“Yes, but you panicked when they said your real name.” He clarified. “Why is that?”
It made sense that The Rivets would know the name Mr. WPNZ, but there’s no way they could’ve also known about Dante Armada. He hadn’t used that name in decades, how had they gotten ahold of such confidential information? The only explanation WPNZ could think of was that the benefactor somehow knew, and had told them. That’s why he was so ruthless in his hunt for them, he needed to know how they knew.
“…I dunno,” He glanced away. “It- It was nothing.”
“It didn’t seem like it.”
“We can worry about it after we nail this guy,” WPNZ fidgeted uncomfortably on the bed. “For now, we’ve got a good thing going on here- I mean, ain’t ya happy?”
“Of course I am,” Puzzles started. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in this new world, but…are you happy?”
WPNZ scoffed at the implication. “Why wouldn’t I be? I got more cash than I know what to do with, a smokin’ hot boyfriend, and an “amazing” beachside view at the east coast’s most mediocre motel.”
Puzzles didn’t accept that answer. He took WPNZ’s hands in his, and locked eyes with him.
“WPNZ, are you okay?” He asked sincerely.
WPNZ went quiet for a moment. Then, he laughed, almost forcibly. “You don’t gotta dote on me, Boxhead.”
“I’m not-” Puzzles shook his head, annoyed. “I feel like you’re not listening to me. By choice.”
“It’s a little hard to when it’s such a non-issue.” WPNZ muttered.
Puzzles narrowed his eyes. “Isn’t it?”
“…Yeah.” WPNZ spat back, slamming his chest panel shut.
“WPNZ-”
WPNZ parted from Puzzles, and stood up. “Thanks for patching me up, I think I’m gonna-”
Puzzles tossed the soldering iron back inside the toolbox and shot up from the bed as well.
“Just how long are you going to keep up this charade?”
“Charade?” WPNZ looked over his shoulder at him. “What? You see this as another one of your games?”
“WPNZ, I understand that what happened has left you feeling out of sorts, but you’ve closed yourself off.” It was a rare occurrence that Puzzles was the one favoring reality. “And all that's going to do is leave you more hurt. I know you’re afraid, but you shouldn’t let that-”
WPNZ interpreted what he’d said completely differently than how it was intended, and took offense. He whirled around, eyes flashing red.
“So I’m a coward, is that it?”
“What? I said no such thing!” Puzzles sputtered, floored by his reaction. “How did you even come to that conclusion? You really aren’t listening to me!”
“You need to stop butting in on other people’s business all the time.” WPNZ bit back.
“How is it not my business too?” Puzzles raised his voice. “We were both there when you were shot! I was the one who fixed you!”
“As if I needed you!”
WPNZ regretted it as soon as he'd said it. He realized too late that he was unfairly lashing out at Puzzles because of what he'd recently gone through. It was also because deep down, he knew that he was right in some capacity. He waited for Puzzles to spew an even harsher rebuttal, but he just stood there, casting his hurt gaze to the floor.
“I…didn’t mean that…” He uttered apologetically.
Puzzles only acknowledged what he’d said with a sigh. “I just don’t understand why you won’t-”
WPNZ’s clenched fists started trembling. Not with rage, but from fear.
“Because I hate feeling this way!” He blurted, sounding more anguished than furious. “I get hit with one lousy bullet, and it’s almost curtains for me! What’s the point of being this unstoppable machine if something that small can-”
He stopped, and spoke more quietly.
“I always figured that, if I was gonna go out, it’d be in a blaze of glory while I was kicking ass.” He shook his head slowly. “But that…that was a whimper. I haven’t felt like this in a long time, so…so helpless. It’s like even with all the bells and whistles I’ve got, I’m still always one lucky shot away from croaking.”
Puzzles looked up from the carpeted floor, and stepped closer to WPNZ. He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Well, you’re not a coward.” He tried reassuring him. “The fact you’re still willing to go out there and locate the benefactor only solidifies that.”
WPNZ didn’t seem too convinced. “I might as well be jumping at my own shadow...”
“Believe it or not, I’m also terrified.” Puzzles confessed. “You’re right, this is a massive deal, and I don’t expect how you feel to just go away. It just pains me to see you in distress, especially when…”
“When what?”
Puzzles’ frown deepened. “When it was my doing that drove you to this state in the first place.”
If he had paid attention more during the heist, he wouldn’t have gotten captured. If he hadn’t been so wrapped up in stealing the spotlight for a “big finisher”, then WPNZ wouldn’t have nearly died. If he hadn’t been so incompetent, inept, and imbecilic-
“Whoa, hey,” WPNZ gently grabbed Puzzles’ arm. “What I just said, about that being a “whimper”… I didn’t mean- Look, if I went out protecting you, I’m not saying that’d be bad, I just…”
As he struggled to find the proper words, he pieced something together.
“Is that why you’ve been wanting to talk about it so bad?”
Puzzles nodded.
“I cherish your company more than anything, and as you know I’ve been…taking strides to “respect other’s boundaries”. But, it is just you and me. There’s no one else I can express my woes to.”
“What about your theater troupe?” WPNZ suggested.
“Oh yes, divulge all my felonies and offenses to them,” Puzzles retorted sarcastically. “I’m sure they’ll be more than understanding.”
“Right,” WPNZ hadn’t really thought about that. “Maybe you could uh, say it’s a script or something, like for a play or a show.”
“Perhaps…”
“I never meant to make ya feel like I wasn’t listenin’,” WPNZ awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “But, let’s be real, my advice ain’t always the best, and I’m kind of floundering around in this whole mess too.”
He looked away from Puzzles, digging his gun-heel into the carpet.
“And if neither of us know what to do, then…”
“Then maybe we should try and work through it together.” Puzzles smiled warmly, and reached for WPNZ’s hand, interlacing their fingers together.
WPNZ lightly squeezed Puzzles’ hand, and smiled back.
“Sounds good to me.”
With their argument having reached a resolution, WPNZ closed in and pressed a kiss to his partner’s face, hoping it would serve as a second apology.
“It’s kinda cute that you think everything’s about you, even when it’s somethin’ bad.” His smile stretched into a playful grin. “Besides, I woulda told you if you were annoying me.”
“You really know how to make a man feel special, WPNZ.” Puzzles teased.
“I find you e-special-ly annoying, does that count?”
Puzzles rolled his eyes. “I’m choosing to take that as a compliment.”
“Never said it wasn’t.” WPNZ bantered back.
“Then allow me to return the favor,” Puzzles embraced WPNZ closer and cleared his throat. “You have all the personality of a raging bull in heat.”
WPNZ snorted and hugged him tighter. “Am I just as good in the sack as one?”
“That, my dear, is a secret I won’t divulge to you.” Puzzles caressed WPNZ’s cheek.
“I bet I could get it out of ya.” WPNZ wagered confidently.
Puzzles raised a brow at him. “Do you plan on interrogating me?”
“Interrogate, intimidate, not much of a difference, is there?”
“Such a shame you’re not intimidating,” Puzzles tsked. “Maybe you would have- Wha-!”
He had no time to react as he was suddenly grabbed, lifted, and tossed onto the bed in mere seconds, back hitting the mattress. He blushed at the shorter figure hovering over top of him.
“Guess I’ll have to try somethin’ else, then.”
Puzzles chuckled. Then, he dramatically tilted his head back, leaning into the bit. “Oh, you’ll never get me to talk, you fiend!”
WPNZ’s grin widened, and he swiped his tongue over his sharp teeth like he was thinking about sinking them into someone something. He did owe Puzzles for that little patch job, now didn't he?
“Who said anything about makin’ you talk?” WPNZ insinuated suggestively as he stroked his stubby metal finger down the underside of Puzzles’ frame (chin).
Puzzles shivered from the touch, face burning so red and hot that it resembled an active volcano. He laughed nervously.
“I-I take it you’re in peak condition now?”